A RECENT Kalye Survey conducted by online news site Rappler confirmed the “overwhelming trust and support Filipinos have for presidential candidate Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. in the upcoming 2022 elections,” according to a press release at the weekend by the camp of the former senator and consistent survey frontrunner.
Rappler’s reporter Rambo Talabong was deployed to the Quezon City Memorial Circle to do random interviews with passersby.
In all, eight people were asked by Rappler, and Marcos got five votes. With one vote, Robredo and Lacson ended in a two-way tie for second place. The survey also registered an undecided vote.
The BBM camp noted that even the lone undecided voter was hoping for unity—the BBM-Sara UniTeam’s consistent theme in their campaign.
The initial question posed to the interviewees was, “Sinong iboboto mo ngayong 2022 at bakit [Who will you vote for in 2022 and why]?”
“Sa akin lang ha, si BBM kasi lahat naman ng ano may kakayahan. Pero siyempre pipili tayo ng karapat-dapat na maging Presidente [In my view, it’s BBM because everyone has his own qualifications. But of course we must pick the one truly fit to be President],” said a man first asked by the Rappler reporter.
When asked why he thinks Marcos was the right choice among the presidential candidates, the interviewee said, “Siya lamang, una, ang maaaring makatulong sa mga mahihirap o kaya siya na ‘yung katuparan nung ibang naghihirap (tutulong) sa bansang Pilipinas.”
When asked about the scathing criticisms against Marcos, the interviewee commented, “Sa akin, ano man ang sabihin nila, kung gusto kong iboto ‘yung isang tao, kahit ano pa man yun, kahit anong mangyari iboboto ko pa rin siya. BBM pa rin ako [For me, whatever they say, if I want to vote for a person, whatever happens I will vote for him].”
The second interviewee, also male, replied to the same question, partly in Filipino: “I guess I’d say it’s BBM. In terms of political legacy, from his father, he has derived much experience for his candidacy.”
The second interviewee was also asked to comment on criticisms against Marcos, and he responded, “Of course one cannot avoid negative comments. No matter how clean you are, there will always be attempts to smear you.”
Asked about a particular promise that he would want Marcos to deliver on, the interviewee said, “The jobs for people.”
A third male individual replied to the same initial question, “Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. Gusto ko lang [I just prefer him].”
The third interview then described the qualities that endeared him to BBM:
“Kung magsalita siya, malumanay. Wala siyang sinasabing kontra sa kalaban. Lahat ng kalaban niya galit na galit kapag nagsalita sa media. Tungkol sa sinasabi nila, magnanakaw. Noon pa ‘yan hanggang ngayon magnanakaw. Martial law. Lahat na sinasabi nila. Hindi ba sila nagsasawa sa sinasabi nilang ‘yan? Si BBM mabait.”
[“He speaks calmly. He does not attack his rivals. All of them sound angry when they talk to media. They keep saying the word ‘thief.’ Then and now, it’s still ‘thief.’ And martial law. Haven’t they grown tired of what they’re saying? BBM is kind].”A female ice cream vendor interviewed by Talabong reminisced about the government’s support to low-income families even in remote areas.
She advised those still criticizing Marcos and his father’s administration to move on.
Bongbong and Sara underscored the importance of achieving unity in the country during the recent proclamation rally of the UniTeam at the Philippine Arena, which drew an estimated 30,000 people.